2YO Whining/Crying

[GirlMomma]

I have a 2YO DCG that will whine/shrill/scream/cry every time she’s redirected. She doesn’t follow directions-at all-so, it’s a constant battle.

For example, at the end of the day on Friday, the DCK clean up and we watch a movie. Even with everyone else sitting down and watching the movie, she will get up to go play. I have simply been walking her back to her spot and telling her to sit. If I catch her before she actually gets up, I’ll praise her for sitting. She’ll do this at least 5x. Every time I sit her down, she does this shrill, fake crying thing for 20 seconds. Then abruptly stops.

My other 2YO’s (all boys) sit down when directed and only need redirected once, maybe twice. Is this correctable and how do I correct it?

[Blackcat31]

Does she do this all the time during the day or just when it’s the end of day and it’s movie time?

I don’t allow or provide movies/TV for my under 3 crowd because they don’t have the attention span for it. Yes, some kids do and I think it’s those who’s parents use tv/videos for entertainment but overall I just don’t think those kids under 3 are really equipped to be able to sit still longer than 10-20 minutes.

I’m not sure what your end of day routine is but maybe find an alternate activity for her.

I changed up my “circle time” because the u see 3 kids couldn’t sit still so now I do it while we are eating snack so they’re occupied with eating but can leave and go play when their attention span expires.

[GirlMomma]

She’s doing this all day long. The end of the day was just an example. She’ll do it if I need to redirect her back to the playroom while I’m making lunch.

[Pestle]

It's not legal in my state to direct children to watch a movie, even if they are old enough for me to show them a movie. At the age of two, I am allowed to put on programming for them, but they must be free to choose to go interact with other activities instead.

I would be concerned that winning this battle looks like teaching a child to sit and stare at the television and ignore developmental and growth opportunities. I understand that you want downtime and that you don't want the other kids' enjoyment of the movie to be interrupted. Can you set up a couple of activities that you don't put away at the end of the day on Fridays, and make it a little corner for her? I know that will give her the opportunity to play louder than you want her to, but there's not really an ethical or developmentally-healthy way to keep a small child still and quiet on demand.

[GirlMomma]

Yeah, I have small toys (fidgets and Little People figures) and coloring books I keep separate for resetting/cooling down as needed. They’re on a bench between my living room and kitchen (open floor plan.) She wants nothing to do with them except during our transition to lunch. So I have to put them up and redirect her to the table a few times so she’ll eat. It’s like she wants to do the complete opposite all the time and will whine/cry if she doesn’t get her way.

[GirlMomma]

The movie was a bad example to use - but it was what was on the top of my head at the time.

Anytime we have to transition, I have to redirect her at least three times and she whines/cries for 20 seconds max and then stops. It doesn’t matter if it’s transition to circle time, sitting down at the table for meals, when she’s done eating and we’re transitioning over to nap, cleaning up, diaper changes etc. It’s all day long.

I know the attention span for under 3YO is very short, but I’ve never had an experience like this. She has no attention span to unless it’s on her terms. If that makes sense?

[Annalee]

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/launch...3263879994270/


I know this thread is about under age 3; but something I've done for the over age 3 to keep them engaged is place the attached laminated and have children dry-erase a plan and then I meander around and go back to hopefully scaffold on their idea to help with attention span....attention spans are small to none for any age I'm finding right now. just an idea I got from a training a while back.. It's mentally draining to have to LEAD EVERY THING as kids do not have imagination or the will to create much anymore.

[GirlMomma]

Thank you!

[hsm]

I have a daughter who was like that (still is to an extent - she's always sad when things are over, even if she didn't like the thing). What helped her was having a visual schedule to manipulate. Ours was very basic. Laminated two inch squares of cardstock with simple line drawing pictures for routine events throughout the day. I included a few blank squares I could quickly draw on for random events and a few squares that just said "fun" with an excited face so they could be used for lots of things. Whenever we needed to transition, I directed her to her schedule. She removed the tile, put it in the done box, reviewed what was next, and moved on.

I've used a similar schedule for a couple of DCKs who struggled to transition too. I only needed to use it for a few weeks with them until they knew the routine and transition times well. With one of them I only needed to show the morning schedule as afternoons were not an issue for him. My daughter needed a schedule of some sort written out for many years.

Another thought would be to give her something to do when transitioning. My same daughter used to melt down every time we left a favorite play museum. The museum required attendees to wear a sticker while you were there. One day they added a large piece of paper near the exit to put your stickers on as you leave and they usually had a seasonal drawing or saying on the paper. My daughter was eager to choose a spot for the sticker each time and it distracted her from the realization we were leaving - no more meltdowns. Perhaps an index card she could put small stickers on and then take home at the end of the day or week? Or a card you punch and count holes at the end of the day? Something easy and doesn't require lots of time /materials?

[GirlMomma]

These are great ideas!! Thank you!!!!!